What began with two Highland cows in 2020 has grown into a 50-cow herd, a family business and a place where others can experience the magic of these gentle, fluffy animals.

For Lindy Wood, of Fairbury, Nebraska, it was never just about owning cattle.
It was about the way a fluffy Highland cow could make someone smile.

What started in 2020 with two Highland cows, “Sage” and “Snuggles”, has grown into a herd of 55 cows and a dream that continues to get bigger every year. “I always loved the cute/fluffy look of highland cattle and I knew one day I would own some of my own. I thought I would just have them as pets but then I thought well lets get a bull and have some babies!” said Wood. “I bought my first Highland bull in 2022, Reeko was his name. My first two baby calves were born in 2023.”
Today, Wood operates Lindy’s Legacy Cattle L.L.C., raising Highland cattle, selling calves and opening her farm to people who want to experience these unique animals up close.

The herd produces calves in both the spring and fall, and Wood sells the calves as part of the cattle operation. The calves are usually purchased by people that have small hobby farms or acreages outside the city as well as others who are starting new herds and some that are seasoned and just want to add new blood to their herds. But over the years, she discovered another way to share her love of Highlands — by inviting people onto the farm.

That passion has turned the farm into an experience for visitors. Guests can spend time with the cattle through farm experiences and cow-cuddling sessions, while holiday-themed photo shoots give families and photographers the chance to capture memories with the animals. We also rent the cattle out to events like weddings, birthday parties, community events as well as to other photographers to use for their photoshoots.

And, of course, there is the opportunity to simply spend time with a Highland cow — something Wood believes is an experience people don’t soon forget. “Some of my families come back to see us every single time we have an event. They fall in love with a certain cow and enjoy coming back to see them.”
Highland cattle are known for their long hair, sweeping horns and unmistakable appearance, but Wood says their personalities are what really make them special.

“They’re cute, they’re fluffy and they all have different personalities,” she said.
Some are curious. Some are gentle and laid-back. Others are eager for attention. Some love to have neck and cheek scratches and all of them love treats! Getting to know each animal and watching their individual personalities emerge is one of the parts of raising Highlands that Wood enjoys most. “Each of my cattle have a name and they get to wear a fancy ear tag that says their name.”

Behind the scenes, Wood has plenty of help. Her husband and her four boys are her biggest supporters, helping whenever they are needed and becoming an important part of the day-to-day work that comes with raising a growing herd. “My boys also each own a few cows of their own, it helps to get them a little extra spending money and they secretly love them as much as I do.”
For Wood, Lindy’s Legacy Cattle isn’t just her business. It has become a family effort and a shared adventure.
As the herd has grown, so have Wood’s dreams. Her goal is eventually to have 100 calving cows and continue expanding Lindy’s Legacy Cattle into more than just a cattle operation.
She envisions bringing even more people to the farm through events such as petting zoos and cow photography events. She also plans to continue growing her “beer steer,” which can make appearances at weddings, parties and other special events. “We also want to continue to be invited to community events around our area including Christmas events, summer picnics. I have also bought my first two fluffy donkeys, Jonny and June. I plan to expand that as time goes as well.”
The possibilities, Wood says, are endless. Her goal is to create opportunities for people of all ages to interact with the cattle and discover what she already knows — that there is something special about a Highland cow.
From two cows in 2020 to a herd of 55 today, Wood’s journey has grown into something she never could have imagined when Sage and Snuggles first came home.
And she isn’t finished yet. With the support of her husband and four boys, a growing herd and plenty of plans for the future, Wood hopes Lindy’s Legacy Cattle L.L.C. will continue to grow — not only in numbers, but in the number of people who get the chance to experience the joy of a fluffy Highland cow.
For Wood, it is about more than just raising cattle.

It is about sharing something she loves, creating memories for others and building something her family can be proud of for years to come.
From two fluffy cows came a herd. From that herd came a business. And from that business, Wood hopes to build a legacy.